Air conditioning system



Oct.14, 1941. E. KENT I AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed May 8, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 0a. 14, 1941. E KENT 2,258,682

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed May 8, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO ZWdrJ Kara R BY W 5%.,

// A TTORNEY vide a new and improved me of operation whereby theinterior of the building temperature below or Patented oa.14,1941

OFFICE AIR, CONDITIONING srsrEM Edward Kent, Highland Park, Mich.Application May 8, 1939, Serial No. 272,362

This invention relates to air conditi tems for buildings and is a oningsyscontinuation in part,

8' Claims. (Cl. 231-51) sides of the partitio n providing an airpassageway therebetween and a blower associated therein respect tocornmop' subject matter, of my .With for discharging air from atmosphereinto United States application, Serial No. 199,383, filed April 1, 1938.The system is especially adapted for use in dwellings, the purpose'being to prochanism and manner may be maintained at a above theexterior atmospheric temperature and thus maintain the building cool'orwarm as may be desired.

A feature and object of the invention is to provide in association witha gas, electric or 'oil heating member, preferably inthe form of afireplace, for taking air from atmosphere in such relation to theheating elementthat it maybe discharged into the building either heatedor cooled. In view of air being forced into the room or interior .of thebuilding thus tending to produce pressure therein or an accumulation ofgas fumes if a gas or oil fired heating element be provided, a point ofegress for air is provided to thus maintain the room or interior of abuilding at or near atmospheric pressure and by use of a fan provide forcomplete change of air in a room over a period of time and preventing adetrimental accumulation of fumes therein.

It isalso an object and feature of the invention to provide a gas gratehaving open flame providing a flow of heated air and discharging freshair into the said heated air to mix therewith as it is discharged intothe room. 1

A further object and feature of the invention resides in the provisionof a gas grate as hereinafter more fully described having a sheet metalback heated by the gas burner and providing a passageway on the oppositeside of the sheet metal back and discharging fresh air through thepassageway to absorb heat from the said sheet metal back and dischargingthe air into the room in mixutre with the heated air developed by thegas burner.

It is iurther a feature and object of the invention to provide inassociation with a gas or electric grate to position in the airpassageway at the back of the grate a means for chilling they air andthus provide a structure that is adapted to discharge heated or cooledair from atmosphere into the room.

A further. object and feature of the invention resides in the provisionof a pair of gas fired oi'the grates in spaced relation with ,the faceoi each grate toward the respective room on opposite the passageway,-grates a passage spective rooms t -sageway between with which the heatedair onthe face of the grate is mixed with the air blowing into theroom.A further object and feature of the inventionis in the provision of agas burning grate or fireplace having a gas bumeron the front of thegrate and a transparent closure for the front or the grate formed of aconvenient material such as a fire resistant glass, and a passageway forair to enter the enclosure atthe bottom and a pas- ,sageway at the topfor-the heated air and a passagewayfor air from atmosphere dischargingjointly with theheated air into the room'through an aperture preferablyprovided with a grating or grille whereby the air from atmosphere ismixed with the heated air, provided by the gas burner 7 prior todischarge intothe room.

way opening directly to the re- A major object of the invention is toprovide in a composite structure a h element and in providing air'cooled at will and discharged to the area requiring correspondingtemperature change.

grates in a partition wall arranged with the backs These and otherfeatures and obJects of the in-' vention are hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed and the preferred bodying my invention is sho wnin the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic planview-showing one arrangement of the various conduits and the dualheating and cooling elements associated there- W Fig. 2 is a. verticalsec and the associated heating 'and control means therefor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the heating and coolin of Fig.1.7

Fig. 4 is a front elevatio partly broken ment.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section showing a outlet for the interiorof the line 8-6 of F18. 1.

and cooling elements n of the heating unit away to show the gas heatingelegas control valve partially portion of an air building taken onheating and cooling units when used without a 5 continuation conduit tothe ceiling of a room there being at the top ofthe' hrough which airfrom thepasthe grates is discharged and form of apparatus em- I tionshowing a building g elements taken on line 3-3 sides of the passagewayopening not here particularly adapted for installation in existingstructures.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 7 partially brokenaway to show the interior be provided by'dischargcharge directly into aroom and this form of the apparatus is first described due to' it beingde-- sirable that this feature of the system "should be first wellunderstood in order that the description of the system'as a whole may bereadily realized.

The preferred element for producing heat is a gas grate one form ofwhich is shown at I in Fig. 3 for use in a room atthe right hand'side ofthe partition wall 2 and asimilar gas rate 3 is formed in the same bodycasting 4 with the back wall 5 of the grate I being opposed to thesimilar back wall 8 of the grate 3. These back walls are spaced toprovide a passageway 1 membertween and the main casting 4 is here shownas having peripheral channels 8 and 8 on opposite and 9 extendperipherally about the casting, as will be understood from Fig. 4, andwater may be introduced into these passageways through an shown and eachchannel is provided with an outlet valve 18 of a character to open onpressure in the passageways 8 and 8 to provide steam stream. A hood8 and8 is provided in the arrangement here shown to house the valves Ill.

The gas grates l and Lmay be of any approved form but are here shown ashaving burners H of hollow form to which gas may be provided by arespective conduit I2 or l3 and with; each of which is provided acontrol valve l4 and I! respectively. The burner grate member at thebottom.. Thus the burning gases will impinge upon the back plate andwill rise to pass into a channel l1 or l8 for the respective grates. Airis provided fonthe burner throughapertures ll and ll in a casing l Ienclosing the burner tube-for each grate.

These channels l1 and I8 open at the upper end to a respective outletconduit is or 20 so that air passing through the conduit 1 passes intoair above or below atmosatmosphere through the associated heating andcooling structure to dis- 1. These channels 8' tubes I l have aperturesi directing the flame l8 againsta back plate of the respective room. andthe members 24 and 25 are preferably formed of a heat resistant glass.By this arrangement all of the heated gases are discharged upwardly andinto the fresh air stream tion wall above the grates a passageway is ashield 28shaped to for causing air topass to the right and to the 7 way1 and at the upper v and 28 into the respective room on the right andleft side of the partition. Thus the heated air can be dischargeddirectly to the upper part of the room if desired and it is also to benoted that on the inner sides of the grilles 21 and 28 are damperelements 28 and 28 left through grilles 21 respectively which may beoperated in any conto be injected into the air either or both the openends of the passageways l1 and I8. The air outlet passageways I8 and 20are closely arranged at the rear of the grille 2| or 22 for therespective grates and the air and gases in combustion pass through thegrilles into the respective room. Air is forced under pressure into thepassageway 1 by a conduit 23 which, as

necessarily, a transface of the grates in the the grate and 25 for theto close the same air througheither venient manner to open and to permitor prevent flow of or both the grilles 21 and 28. Likewise there is adamper element 31 for the air conduit l8 and a similar damper element 82for the air conduit 20. These last named damper elements may becontrolled by a lever 33 for the grille 2| and by a similar controlelement for the grille 22 such control lever being shown clearly in Fig.4.

Preferably theopposed inner faces of the back 1 plates 5 and 6 have abacking 24 of silica sand held in place by the shield 35 in eachinstance, the shields being supported at the lower end by a casting 36formed integral with the back plate. These members 34 and 35 are spacedapart and between the same is a cooling coil 21 of a refrigeratingapparatus (not here shown) but to be understood as being connected withthe circulating system of the refrigerating apparatus by a conduit 38.

Preferably this coil is the expansion coil of acondenser-compressor-expander type of artificial refrigerating apparatusalthough other types of cooling apparatus may Such coil is to be usedwhen it is desired to cool the air flowing between the two plates tolower the temperature of the air inthe room in respect use the gasburners are shut off by the valves l4 and I5.

It is also to be understoodthat the channel 1' and the upper grilles 21and 28- and associated parts maybe dispensed with inwhich case theheating and cooling unit will remain substantially the same as describedin respect to Fig. 3 and thus the elements 34 are not described inrespect to Fig. '7. The structure of Fig. 7 differs from that shown inFig. 3 in the fact that no water channels 8 or 8 are provided as theheating and cooling element is usable without the provision of means forinjecting steam into the air stream as is provided for in the structureshown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 7 the air passageway 1' (which corresponds tothe passageway I of Fig. 3) terminates at the top wall 38 and the airflow through the passageway 1' from the air conduit 23' is directedthrough the grilles 40 and u and the associated damper elements. Thecharacter of structure shown in Fig. 7 is used where there isnorequirement for the channel 1 of Fig. 3 or in a single story room wherethere is no necessity for discharging heated or cooled air above thegrates, as for instance to an upper room, as

be located adjacent the floor of an upper room be utilized if desired.

to atmospheric temperature and when in rooms A and B on opposite sidesof the partition that these conduits will of necessity change inposition depending upon the arrangement of rooms of thebuilding and thelocation of the grate elements. v

The preferred means for providing air vfor the grate elements is shownin detail in Fig. 2 which consists of a conduit 23 preferably positionedbeneath the floor 42 and discharging to the grate elements as describedrelative to Fig. 3. The intake end of this conduit 23 is provided by avertical conduit 43, the upper end of which is provided with a chamberedelement 44 having a front face formed with louvres 45 for ingress ofopening and II respectively providing an inlet to the conduit 66.

The main air exhaust conduit 65 has abranch conduit 66 connected withthe grilled opening 10 in a partition wall 59 which opens to rooms onthe respective opposite sides of the wall and may air from atmosphere.The horizontal portion of the conduit 23, in the arrangement shown inFig. 2, is provided with a chamber 46 to which the vertical conduit 43opens on one side and to which the conduit 23 opens on the other side.There is a fan in the chamber 46 of any approved type shown at 41 and inthe base of the chamber is provided a quantity of water 48 in which thecondenser coil 49 of a refrigerating system may be located. The watermay be supplied through a conduit 56 having a valve controlled by afloat When'the water isdepleted below a certain level the valve opensand water is sprayed into the chamber 46 through the spray heads 52 sopositioned that air passing intothe conduit 23 mustfirst pass throughthe spray. Such arrange-' ment provides for introduction of moisture inthe air stream and may be utilized rather than the arrangement describedin Fig. 3 having the water conduits 8 and 9.

Whether or not water spraying means is used in the chamber 46 Ipreferably provide air filters 53 in the conduit 23 or in the branchesthereof as indicated at 23 and 23 in Fig. 1. Considering Fig. 1 thedotted lines 55 indicate-the outer wall of a building while the dottedlines 56; 51,

58, 59 and 60 show partition walls. The conduits 23 and 23 discharge tothe grate element 6| or 62 respectively positioned in the partitions 66and 56. The cooling and heating unit 62 is arranged to discharge cooledor heated 'air to the wall 56 and there is an extension conduit 23 incontinuation of the conduit 23, which, as shown in Fig. 2, has avertical portion 21! providing a discharge .outlet at the upper endadjacentthe' ceiling. The conduit 23 is controlled by the damper 23operable in any approved way to permit or prevent fiow of air fromatmosphere to the room ceiling. The ,conduit 23 is likewise 7 whetherthe exhaust openings are single or controlled by a damper 23 and otherdampers A may be provided in the conduits to control flow of airtherethrough. In any case the air must first pass through the filters 53before discharging to the heating and cooling units or into the room.The heating andfcooling grate element 63 is supplied with air throughthe conduit 23.

In view of the fact that air is discharged into the interior of thebuilding through the heating and cooling unit it is desirable,especially when the heating units are in operation, to withdraw air fromthe room to maintain a substantially pure alr therein and withoutaccumulation of pressure. For this purpose I provide a main conduit 65having an opening to atmosphere as at.

66 and in the room adjacent the opening is provided' a fan 61. The mainconduit 65 is connected as by branches 66 and 69 with a grilled be at aconsiderable distance from the heating and cooling device 6|. The branchconduit 69 'is connected with the grilled openings in the partition 56opening on opposite sides of the partition wall to the rooms A and B. Bythis arrangement of conduits (which will vary in accordance with thestructure and arrangement of rooms) heated or cooled air may bedischarged into the rooms and by the fan 61 in the exhaust .conduit 65air is removed from the rooms to prevent an accumulation of air.pressure therein and further to insure a constant change in theatmosphere in the rooms. This constant change of atmosphere is desirablewhether or not the installations where no basement is provided in eitherold or new structures, the said housing and moisture providing apparatusmay be. positioned in a room C provided therefore as shown et 15 in Fig.10, the intake conduit being indicated at 16 and the discharge conduitat 11. The apparatus functioning exactly as described relative to Fig.2. In old structures having a basement, the air intake 96 may bplaced onthe exterior of the building wall as shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig..6is shown the exhaust conduit 65 as having a single grilledopening 18 rather than the double grille opening 6i or H of Fig. 1 assuch single opening may be desirable in some arrangements ofthe exhaustai'rconduits. Also.

double, a damper 19 may be provided to secure a regulation of the flowof air from the room or rooms.

In the use of gas fired grates it is desirable to provide acontrol valveas is indicated in Fig. 5,

the valve proper being housed in a casing to which the gas tube l6 ofFig. 3 is connected. The

valve has a shaft 8| and thehand wheel has a hub slidable longitudinallyon the'shaft and also rotatable on the Fig. 5.

Thus when the valve is closed or open there will be no possibility ofaccidentally turning the between the hub of the wheel and the collartendingto maintain the same in the disengaged relation shown in Fig. 5.While such valve control arrangement is desirable the invention hereindisclosed and claimed is not confined to its use.

From the foregoing description it is believed evident that the variousobjects and features of the invention areattained by the constructiondescribed. It is further evident that with my improved air conditioningapparatus there is no necessity for chimney or chimneys nor of furnacesat a central point from which-heat is distributed shaft in the positionshown in by a conduit to various rooms as is commonly the case. In suchprior furnace construction, especially hot air furnaces, there is aconsiderable heat loss while the air is traversing the conduits. By myinvention the heat is developed and supplied to the air stream at itspoint of entrance to the room whereby my improved heating system iseconomical in use and by use of the dampers such as i9 and 20 of Fig. 1the volume of air discharged to any particular room per unit of time maybe varied. Andlikewise the first cost of the system is below that of theusual furnace system.

Further my improved air conditioning apparatus provides for removal ofdustfrom the rooms, it being obvious that by closing the air outlets tothe exhaust du'ct in all the rooms but one a rapid flow of air may becaused and fresh air .drawn thereinto through the grilles 2 I 21 or 28and this may be accomplished even though the heating and coolingapparatus, is not used. a

Having thus fully describedmy invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent oftheUnited States is:

'1. Air conditioning means fora room' of .a

combustionto discharge into the air stream a temper the same prior todischarge into the building comprising a gas burning grate having a backwall, means for supplyinggases and air for combustion to the forwardsurface of said wall, a duct at the upper end of the grate having anopening to the room and through which the gases of combustion pass,anwhich is formed by the said back wall of the grate and having anopening above the grate adiacent the duct opening, means for supplyingair from atmosphere to the said air conduit,-the duct being so arrangedthat the heated gases of combustion discharge into the stream of airfrom said air conduit at the top of .the grate, and a grilled opening atthe top of the grate through which the commingled air from atmosphereand gases of combustion pass into the room.

2. Air conditioning means for a room of a building comprising a gasburning grate having a back wall, means for supplying gases and air forcombustion to the forward surface of said wall, a duct at the upper endof the grate through which the gases of combustion pass, an air conduit,one wall of which is formed by the said back wall of the. grate andhaving anopening above the grate to which the flrst named duct opens,means for supplying air from atmosphere to the said passageway, the ductbeing so arranged that air conduit, one wall of room, and means forvarying the volume of tempered air discharged into a room per unit oftime.

4. Air conditioning means for the room of a building comprising a gasburning grate, means for supplying a gas flame to the front surface ofthe grate facing the room interior, a transparent shield for said frontface of the grate for closing the same to the room, there being anopening at the bottom of the grate for supply of air for combustion, anair conduit at the back of the grate whereby air passing therethrough issubject to influence of the heat of the said back wall of the grate,said back wall of the grate having means for supporting a heat absorbingelement such as silica sand, means for discharging air through thepassageway to thereby subject the same to heat by the heat absorbingmeans, said passageway having an opening at the top of the grate throughwhich the air is discharged to th r building separated by a partitionwall comprising a pair of grates arranged in the partition wall, theback walls of the grates being in opposed and spaced relation providinga passageway therebetween, means for supplyin heat'tc the front of thewall of each of the grates, means providing for a supply of air to theface of the grates, a transparent shield separating the faces of the.grates. from the interior of the respective rooms, means for supplyingair to the passageway'between the grates, there being an opening fordischarge of air to the respective rooms at the top of each of thegrates, the said upper end of the passageway being arranged to dischargethe heated air from the face of the grate to the air stream prior topassing into the room.

6. Air conditioning means for rooms of a building separated by apartition wall comprising a pair of grates arranged in the-partitionwall, the back walls of the grates being in opposed and spaced relation,providing a passageway there'- between, means for supplying heat to thefront of the wall of each of the grates, means progrates, .a transparentshield separating th'e faces the heated gases of combustion dischargeinto T the air stream at the top of the grate, and a grilled opening atthe top of the grate through which the commingled air and gases ofcombus-.

'tion pass into the room, and means for injecting steam into the streamof air and gases of combustionprior to discharge into the room. V

3. Air conditioning means ior'the room of a building comprising a gasburning grate, means for supplying a gas flame to the front surface offor discharge of air to the respective rooms at the top of each of thegrates, the said upper end of the passageway being arranged to dischargethe grate facing the room interior, a transparent shield for said frontface of the grate for closing the same to the room, there beingan'opening at the bottom of the grate for supply of air for com-- bustion,an air conduit at theback of the grate whereby air passing therethroughis subject to influence of the heat of the's'aidr back wall of thegrate, means for discharging air through the said passageway, saidpassageway having an opening at the top of the' grate through which theair is discharged to the room, the upper end-of the said backing memberbeing shaped to cause gases of the heated air from the face of the grateto the air stream prior to passing into the room, a verticalconduitabove the grates providing a continuation of the said passagewaytherebetween,

and openings on each side or the said vertical conduit for dischargingair to opposite sides of the partition. t

7, Air conditioning means for rooms of a building separated by apartition wall comprising a. pair of grates arranged in the partitionwall. the back walls of the grates being in opposedand;

.spaced' relation, providing a passageway therebetween, 'means forsupplying heat to the front of the wall of each of the grates, meansproviding for a supply of air to the face of the grates. a transparentshield separating. the faces of the grates from the interior or therespective rooms,

means for supplying air to the passageway bethe air stream prior todischarge into the respection of. the said passageway therebetween, and10 openings on each side of the said vertical conduit for dischargingair to opposite sides of the partition, and means for supplying moistureto,

tive rooms. a

Y 5 8. Air conditioning means for rooms of a builda ing having a commonpartition wall comprising a pair of grate elements in said wall arrangedin spaced relation back to back providing a passage: way therebetween,said passageway being formed to provide" discharge outlets at the top ofthe grate to the respective'rooms on each of the op'- posite sides ofthe, wall, a fuel burning element for each grate,- means whereby gasesof combustion produced by each fuel burning element discharges to therespective outlets'ot the passageway, and means for supplying air fromat-' mosphere to the passageway.

' EDWARD KENT.

